Small group of white nationalists drowned out, escorted away from scene; no arrests reported

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Protestors march against the far-right's Unite the Right rally August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC on the one-year anniversary of deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement.

Demonstrators rally near the White House on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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White nationalists, led by Jason Kessler, center, wearing a suit and carrying a flag, march to Lafayette Square during the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Demonstrators march near the White House on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Demonstrators rally near the White House on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

White nationalist Jason Kessler talks during a rally near the White House on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Protestors march against the far-right's Unite the Right rally August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC on the one-year anniversary of deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP)DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: DC Metro Police form a protective phalanx around participants in the white supremacist Unite the Right rally as they exit the Foggy Bottom Metro station and march toward the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Counter-demostrators line F Street Northwest as white supremacists with the Unite the Right rally march past on their way to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Mounted police stand guard as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains profanity.) Counter-protesters demonstrate as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, speaks as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, speaks as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, speaks as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, speaks as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, carries an American flag as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, carries an American flag as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (R), who organized the rally, carries an American flag as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A White nationalist is shown during a rally near the White House on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

White nationalist Jason Kessler walks to the White House to rally on the one year anniversary of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Counter-demostrators line F Street Northwest as white supremacists with the Unite the Right rally march past on their way to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

VIENNA, VA - AUGUST 12: DC Metro Police form a protective phalanx around participants in the white supremacist Unite the Right rally as they march toward the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: Employees of the Hotel Hive look out the front door as white supremacists with the Unite the Right rally march past on their way to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: DC Metro Police form a protective phalanx around participants in the white supremacist Unite the Right rally as they march to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: DC Metro Police form a protective phalanx around participants in the white supremacist Unite the Right rally as they march to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 12: DC Metro Police form a protective phalanx around participants in the white supremacist Unite the Right rally as they march to White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally in Washington, which was planned by the organizer of last yearÕs deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - AUGUST 12: Susan Bro (R), mother of Heather Heyer, hugs a young woman near a makeshift memorial for her daughter Heather who was killed one year ago during a deadly clash, August 12, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville has been declared in a state of emergency by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as the city braces for the one year anniversary of the deadly clash between white supremacist forces and counter protesters over the potential removal of Confederate statues of Robert E. Lee and Jackson. A "Unite the Right" rally featuring some of the same groups is planned for today in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - AUGUST 12: Jenn Franklin (L) and Gretchen Burgess (R), who were at the deadly clash in Charlottesville last year, embrace near a makeshift memorial for Heather Heyer, who was killed one year ago during a deadly clash, August 12, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville has been declared in a state of emergency by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as the city braces for the one year anniversary of the deadly clash between white supremacist forces and counter protesters over the potential removal of Confederate statues of Robert E. Lee and Jackson. A ÒUnite the RightÓ rally featuring some of the same groups is planned for today in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

A white nationalist holds his phone while marching to Lafayette Square during the "Unite the Right 2" rally in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

Demonstrators opposed to a far-right rally march and hold signs at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Far-right demonstrators gather for a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Police escort far-right demonstrators during a rally at Lafayette Park opposite the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC, one year after the deadly violence at a similar protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. - Last year's protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one person dead and dozens injured, saw hundreds of neo-Nazi sympathizers, accompanied by rifle-carrying men, yelling white nationalist slogans and wielding flaming torches in scenes eerily reminiscent of racist rallies held in America's South before the Civil Rights movement. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Jason Kessler (C), who organized the rally, speaks as white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups gather for the Unite the Right rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House August 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the "white civil rights" rally, which was planned by the organizer of last years deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WASHINGTON — A short and sparsely attended white nationalist rally broke up late Sunday as police ushered the attendees into white vans and drove them away from a crowd of thousands of angry protesters in downtown Washington.

The rally’s end followed a day in which large numbers of police officers sought — for the most part successfully — to keep the two sides from clashing in a repeat of last year’s deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

The small band of demonstrators at the “Unite the Right 2” rally, who numbered about two dozen, were being transported to the Rosslyn Metro station, a Fairfax County official said. From there, they would take a train to Vienna, where they would be greeted by county police who could escort them to their cars if necessary.

The demonstration’s message of “white civil rights,” delivered in an overwhelmingly liberal city where African Americans outnumbered whites at the last Census count, was angrily denounced by those who flocked to Lafayette Square.

A brief speech by rally organizer Jason Kessler — also one of the lead organizers of last year’s rally — was drowned out by the cries and chants of those massed around him. Many in the crowd of counterprotesters wore the signature black masks, helmets and body armor of the Antifa movement, which clashed violently with white supremacists in Charlottesville.

Scores of police officers kept them separated from the white nationalist demonstrators — and ultimately drew the renewed anger of the masked counter-protesters after supporters of the white supremacist rally were long gone from downtown D.C.

As evening came on and rain began to fall, the black-clad group launched flares and fireworks toward the White House compound. Roughly 200 of them then moved east in a group down I Street NW, turning over trash bins and chanting anti-police slogans.

Police later clashed with the counterprotesters at 13th and G Streets NW, after the activists tried to push past a line of officers on motorcycles engaged in crowd control. Some officers scuffled with the activists and used mace in response, though police said no one was immediately arrested.

Counterprotester Mike Isaacson said the group had planned to march to the headquarters of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) but were thwarted by police and rerouted to the Department of Justice. He said they had not planned to have a confrontation with police. “We were just taking the streets,” he said.

The white supremacist gathering falls on the anniversary of the Charlottesville violence, which killed an anti-racist protester, Heather Heyer, and took the lives of two Virginia State troopers whose helicopter crashed as they returned from monitoring the day’s events.

Both Kessler and opposition groups obtained permits from the National Park Service to demonstrate at the park, a leafy, seven-acre enclave across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. Authorities confined the groups to opposite sides of the park and separated them by a barrier.

From the moment they set foot in the District, Kessler and his supporters were escorted by police in riot gear. They arrived in the city after boarding a train — with police officers stationed in each car — at the Vienna Metro station in Northern Virginia.

Before boarding the train, Kessler told reporters they were promoting free speech and abuses of “white people’s civil rights”.

“I am not a white nationalist. I’m a civil-rights advocate,” he said. “I’m focusing on white people because we don’t have civil-rights advocates.”

Kessler offered his “condolences” to Heyer’s mother but said that police in Charlottesville should have blocked off the street where she was killed last year.

The train carrying Kessler (and with several police officers standing on each car) made stops along the way from Vienna toward Foggy Bottom. At Clarendon station, officers on the platform warned waiting passengers that the coming train was carrying Unite the Right participants, and directed people to board at the front of the train, away from Kessler’s car at the back.

Protesters awaited the train when it arrived at Foggy Bottom station, but they were separated from Kessler by about 60 feet, with police officers instructing the protesters that they weren’t allowed to get any closer. None of the protesters physically tried to get past the police.

When Kessler emerged from the car, surrounded by a swarm of photographers and TV cameras, the protesters started booing and chanting “Black Lives Matter.” Once the white supremacist group went up the escalator and past the fare gates, the people standing on the platform could hear a slow rumble of screams and yells erupt from the people waiting at the surface.

Members of Kessler’s group said they weren’t sure how many people would show up to demonstrate with them but that it “doesn’t matter.”

As the group was escorted into the station, a crowd of counterprotesters shouted “go home Nazis” and told the group whose faces were covered to “take off your masks.”

Meanwhile, in Washington, the number of protesters continued to grow.

At about 2:30 p.m., several dozen masked counterprotesters, many of them wearing helmets and body armor, moved north on 13th Street. Many carried black umbrellas that they extended to form a shield when journalists approached them to ask questions and take photographs.

“We’re not talking to press today,” said one man with a black scarf tied across the bottom half of his face. “We prefer to let our actions speak for themselves.”

As the group approached intersections, those at the front and rear would call out commands for others to halt. Eventually they stopped in Franklin Square Park, sitting down to rest and drink water.

One demonstrator, who wore dark sunglasses and had tied a bandanna across his face, declined to give his name but said he works full-time in the health care industry and has children.

“People like to think that we’re a bunch of jobless hippies,” he said.

He said he drew his own inspiration for involvement in black bloc in part from his study of German history, saying that the passivity of Germans had enabled Hitler’s rise.

He said the group of black bloc demonstrators would only use violence if forced to by white nationalist protesters. He said the standards for what would trigger a violent reaction were “organic,” rather than strictly defined.

Asked why he and his co-demonstrators were prepared to use violence rather than taking a non-violent approach, he said others were free to adopt more peaceful measures.

“There’s enough of us for everybody to do, in their heart of hearts, what they feel is the absolute best thing,” he said. “For people who want to do something that’s hand-holdy and singing songs, we think there’s room for people to do that.”

However, he added, “I think if you ask the average person on the street, more people are willing to use a fist if a fist comes at them than you think.”

Close to a thousand protesters were at Freedom Plaza by mid-afternoon, a few blocks away from Lafayette Park for an afternoon rally of speeches and music.

The Rev. Graylan Hagler was the rally’s first speaker. “This place, this city, this country is a country of inclusivity and not white supremacy,” he told the crowd in a booming voice. “We are people that stand up for racial justice and racial inclusivity,” he added. “We will not be silenced.”

Elsewhere, about 200 people from various groups marched down Vermont Avenue to just outside Lafayette Park shouting “we are not afraid” and “our streets.”

Police reported no arrests or skirmishes in the District.

Around the same time Kessler and his supporters boarded a train Vienna, a large contingent of Black Lives Matter D.C. arrived at Lafayette Square to await him there.

Several hundred people marched down H Street toward the plaza shouting chants, many of them dressed in black and holding signs. The front phalanx walked in a row behind a hand-painted banner reading, “Rise Up” and “Power to the People.”

Protesters and tourists left the grassy plaza to watch and applaud the group chanting and clapping in the street.

Earlier at Lafayette Park the atmosphere was quieter.

Protesters milled about, talking and photographing each other’s signs. Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” pumped through speakers set up on the stage on the northeast side of the park. Some enterprising vendors hawked cold water and Gatorade.

For some of the protesters, the focus was less on the white supremacist rally than on President Donald Trump.

Holding a “Dump Trump” sign, Mike Holey, 67, of Baltimore, said he’s been particularly frustrated by what he called the president’s hesitation to denounce white supremacy and neo-Nazism. He pointed to Trump’s statement that there was “blame on both sides” after violence broke out at the Unite the Right rally last year.

Benjamin Garrett, a Vietnam War veteran who lives in Maryland, raised a sign saying Trump is a traitor” in block capital letters.

“He gives these people permission,” Garrett said. “Trump is a blatant racist.”

Trump, who was heavily criticized last year for not unequivocally condemning the white nationalists who had organized the rally and a torch light march through the University of Virginia campus the night before, addressed the Charlottesville anniversary on Saturday, tweeting, “The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!”

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